One of my favorite things about being an event coordinator at The Mount is seeing this classically beautiful home transformed every weekend to fit the bride and groom’s personal style. I’m a big supporter of the idea that your wedding should be about you. Your love, your commitment, your creativity, your culture, your favorite memories, your inside jokes; it’s your day! A day to celebrate all the little things that makes your relationship perfect for the two of you.

Alexandra and Justin gave The Mount a makeover that I’ll never forget. It was very important to them to incorporate  the time they’ve spent living together in Brazil, into the design of the wedding. When their florist, Lisa Brown of Dreamy Flower, told me that palm trees and vintage Brazilian cigar boxes would be included in the decor my curiosity was immediately peaked. With the added details of a Brazilian dessert spread and some impressive lighting design by Julie Seitel, The Mount became a South American villa full of friends and family celebrating something wonderful on a warm Spring night.

Enjoy these magical shots from ReadyLuck Photography and some thoughts from Alexandra on her favorite moments of the day and how a rainstorm turned out to be a blessing in disguise!

Cheers,

Grace

Alexandra on why they chose The Mount:

“We chose the Mount as the venue for our wedding even before arranging to visit in person. A few photographs of the property alongside great reviews of the venue by past couples were enough to charge our imagination. Our choice was solidified further by the fact that the property has been lovingly preserved, is open to the public, and acts as a haven for the arts. The mission of the Mount and the personality of it’s former Madame (Edith Wharton) resonated with my family. We also love the Berkshires and wanted to share the natural beauty of the area with our wedding guests, most all of whom would be traveling for the occasion.” 

Right before the ceremony a Spring rainstorm passed over and Alexandra and Justin had to make use of our rain backup location, the Stables. We always set up the Stables ahead of time for a ceremony so you can make that last-minute rain call if need be.

“For every bride that worries about rain, the Mount is wonderful. When planning my wedding I had my heart set on the romantic stone garden as the backdrop for the ceremony. However, on the wedding day rain prevented us from using the space and we had to move to the Stables. In the end, the Stables provided an unexpectedly intimate and beautiful space for the ceremony. One of my favorite memories from the day is of walking through the big stable doors into the ceremony with my father. It was less of a traditional procession, and more of an “unveiling.” And, unlike a traditional ceremony, I was presented facing the guests instead of walking towards them from the back of a room. I could see everyone in front of me so clearly, huddled together and smiling. It was a great way to be welcomed. At one point during the ceremony our celebrant asked everyone to close their eyes. It was a magical moment, filled with the smell of spring grasses and the sound of rain gently touching the roof.”

“As much as the rain was magical for the ceremony, I was very happy that the sun came out to greet us right before cocktail hour. The Mount is so gorgeous I really wanted the guests to be able to wander the grounds…. and they did! Another favorite moment of mine was walking around the property of the Mount with my new husband, taking some couple photos, while watching our friends and family wander around and enjoy the late-afternoon sunshine. Some of our friends traveled internationally for the wedding, and it was a great opportunity for people to unite and catch-up after many years apart. I was happy to see everyone together, being social in such a relaxed and comfortable setting.”

“The entire wedding was amazing and Justin and I loved every minute of the day. We also loved the dinner on the terrace, which we prolonged with some after-diner Speeches. This was a highlight of the evening for us, probably because a wedding is one of the only times in life that your loved-ones spoil you with such nice words and anecdotes. We were laughing and smiling the whole time.” 

“The Mount almost offers too many options for beautiful settings, and it was challenging and very fun deciding exactly how to orchestrate the days’ events. I think one of the great benefits of this venue is that there are a thousand options for making an event unique to you and yours.”